One NFL playoff storyline this weekend involves current LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford's return to Detroit, a "homecoming" of sorts, since he spent a dozen years as the Lions' quarterback.
But what about current Detroit quarterback Jared Goff, himself a former Ram?
Where will he be coming home to?
Manhattan Beach, it turns out.
Goff looks to be planning a mega-estate across two large Hill Section lots with ocean views. The location, at the corner of 5th and John Street, will be, hands down, literally the best intersection among real estate in Manhattan Beach's Hill Section, once Goff's project is complete.
Goff's lot-buying adventure began with the purchase of MLS-listed 501 John St. in May 2023.
The 10,600 sqft. plot currently is the site of a splendid, highly livable remodel with a pool and basement that features 5 bedrooms and 5725 sqft. of living space.
Goff paid full list price, $10.500M, for what most people might see simply as a huge, updated house in a great location.
But word is, that's just going to be lot value in the end.
You could definitely design a special, huge new house for a prime lot like that, and it would be an improvement over the current structure, which one must admit is a bit stitched-together and awkward, as it was built originally in 1987 and had a basement added within the last decade. (Yes, they built a basement under a standing house!)
The only real views from the existing house at 501 John – nice views! – are from the primary bedroom. Modern homes use a reverse floorplan to maximize views like those.
One report says 501 John was the temporary residence of Shaquille (Shaq) O'Neill some years ago.
Doubling Up
Goff's crowning achievement was acquiring a much older, deteriorating property next door to 501 John.
Goff's LLC paid $8.575M in an off-market sale to acquire 819 5th in late November 2023.
The plot effectively doubles Goff's footprint, adding 9,984 sqft. of land that shares a 140' deep property line with the western edge of 501 John. By combining the two lots, the property would consist of 20,604 sqft. of prime Hill Section dirt.
Current local regs should allow a lot merger, although state law would appear to require at least one technically separate residence if a new structure spans both lots. Many homes designed today meet that requirement by integrating a guest house or ADU.
Credit for firsts: The news about Goff being behind the purchase of 501 John appears to have been broken by Sportico in July. His purchase of 819 5th was revealed by the Robb Report in December. MBC has confirmed via tax records that the same LLC is listed as the owner of both properties. And at least one local broker posted on social media about it.
Prime Time Neighbors
Directly across 5th Street from Goff's new properties are 812 5th (6br/7ba, 5567 sqft.), a 2004 build on a 7100 sqft. lot that sold for $8.980M in May 2022. Before that, huge new construction at 822 5th (6br/9ba, 8378 sqft.) on a 9175 sqft. lot sold pre-market for $11.850M in May 2018.
Three neighbors touching the same corner at 5th/John already feature some of the most transcendent homes in the area. (One is still under construction, with one of MB's better-known, high-end builders. We're betting on that one being superb.)
One of the newer homes on the block at 5th/John is at the southwest corner, a 9200 sqft. corner lot with unblocked ocean and PV views to the south and west. The land was acquired for $7.500M in June 2014. Despite the presence of a 25-year-old, large, custom house on the site, the buyer razed that to build a new, luxe Cape Cod-inspired beauty, completed a few years ago.
Just across John on the southeast corner of the intersection is a landmark Spanish-style hacienda, which doesn't just sprawl across its own, main 11,900 sqft. plot. There's a bonus: A guest house property on the adjoining 8,000 sqft. lot to the south has access to the yard and offers the property's pool, which makes the whole complex appear almost like a triple-lot house. Its 19,900 sqft. of land is a trifle less than Goff's acquisitions total up to now.
New construction is under way now at the northeastern corner of 5th/John, a plot of nearly 8,000 sqft. with views and a favorable rear elevation. A 90s house on the site wasn't built to take much advantage of the views, but they're fixing that with the new build now.
It's true, this is an area that has seen almost constant new construction over the last 10 years, and it won't end any time soon.
But what more proof do you need that this is the best-of-the-best locations in the Manhattan Beach Hill Section?
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Listings presented above are supplied via the MLS and are brokered by a variety of agents and firms, not Dave Fratello or Edge Real Estate Agency, unless so stated with the listing. Images and links to properties above lead to a full MLS display of information, including home details, lot size, all photos, and listing broker and agent information and contact information.
